Hubby and I traveled to Baird to see my folks for a couple of days. We’d seen them at Christmas when our daughter and son-in-law met us there. We’d cooked a couple of big meals and had a fun time visiting and such. Seeing my parents these few weeks later, it was jarring how far they’ve gone downhill since then.
On the way down, we went off out usual route and headed farther south so Hubby could geocache in counties he hasn’t marked off yet. He’s working hard to get a one in every county in Texas. You get special kudos if you do that in any state. We went through a lot of empty country, past a limestone plant near a tiny town named Maryneil, stopped at a very old cemetery in the middle of nowhere, and went on to Ballinger and Coleman which were both really nice small towns. I love driving down main streets of small towns and looking at all the small businesses trying to make a go of it and keep the town alive. I wish we’d had time to stop and shop at a few of them.
Neither of my folks remember us being there at Christmas. Mom now lives in another time and place. She interacts with me and still knows my name for which I’m so grateful. Dad has a hard time comprehending things. We figured out that’s why they always go to the same places to eat and shop. The people there know them and know what they want so they get first class service. That way, Dad doesn’t have to figure something new out, and he also likes other people serving him. Mom spoiled him all those years.
On the way back, I wanted to stop in at the 6666 Store in Guthrie to pick up another tee shirt. That took us along and through more places that we rarely visit. My favorite was Stamford because of their architecture. For as small a town as it is, they had the fanciest buildings of anywhere. An architect must have lived there and designed all the buildings.
After a quick stop at Costco in Lubbock, we made it back to Amarillo right as the sun was setting. Us old folks don’t like to drive after dark anymore and time our trips accordingly.
Go explore the little towns around your area. You might be surprised to find how interesting they are.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18
We drove past these red barns on our trip out west the other day.